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Midwives from the birth center now can attend at both births where the family plans a hospital delivery from the beginning, or those where the mother is transferred from the birthing center during labor.

One of the birthing rooms includes a bath and large bed at the Baby + Co birthing facility on 1512 Coleman Road in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.(Photo: CALVIN MATTHEIS/KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL)Buy Photo

Midwives from the birth center can attend at both births where the family plans a hospital delivery from the beginning, or those where the mother is transferred from the birthing center during labor. This is a change; previously, the midwives could still provide other types of care to families who went to the hospital for birth, but they could not attend at the birth.

"We believe in educating and empowering women to choose the parenting journey that is right for them," said Sherri Hedberg, center manager for Baby+Co. "We are very excited to partner with UT Medical Center to expand our delivery options for our clients and guarantee that, regardless of where our clients choose to deliver, they will receive complete care through their Baby+Co. team they've come to know and trust."

One of the birthing rooms at the new Baby + Co birthing facility on 1512 Coleman Road in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday, January 25, 2017. Baby + Co offers women a comfortable birthing experience than traditional hospitals which includes nurse-midwives, beds, showers and other amenities. CALVIN MATTHEIS/KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL

The reception is purposely without windows or walls to create an open and friendly atmosphere at the new Baby + Co birthing facility on 1512 Coleman Road in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday, January 25, 2017. Baby + Co offers women a comfortable birthing experience than traditional hospitals which includes nurse-midwives, beds, showers and other amenities. CALVIN MATTHEIS/KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL

One of the lactation rooms at the new Baby + Co birthing facility on 1512 Coleman Road in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday, January 25, 2017. Baby + Co offers women a comfortable birthing experience than traditional hospitals which includes nurse-midwives, beds, showers and other amenities. CALVIN MATTHEIS/KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL

One of the exam rooms at the new Baby + Co birthing facility on 1512 Coleman Road in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday, January 25, 2017. Baby + Co offers women a comfortable birthing experience than traditional hospitals which includes nurse-midwives, beds, showers and other amenities. CALVIN MATTHEIS/KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL

The new Baby + Co birthing facility includes a medication preparation room and nurses station at the new Baby + Co birthing facility on 1512 Coleman Road in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday, January 25, 2017. Baby + Co offers women a comfortable birthing experience than traditional hospitals which includes nurse-midwives, beds, showers and other amenities. CALVIN MATTHEIS/KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL

One of the birthing rooms includes a bath and large bed at the new Baby + Co birthing facility on 1512 Coleman Road in Knoxville, Tennessee on Wednesday, January 25, 2017. Baby + Co offers women a comfortable birthing experience than traditional hospitals which includes nurse-midwives, beds, showers and other amenities. CALVIN MATTHEIS/KNOXVILLE NEWS SENTINEL

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UT Medical Center is currently the only hospital where Baby+Co. midwives have attending privileges; Dr. Lynlee Wolfe of High Risk Obstetrical Consultants, based at the hospital, is medical director, and patients who get transferred during labor are taken there.

Knoxville's Baby+Co., 1512 Coleman Road, officially opened in January 2017. The national birth center chain in late 2016 bought out the freestanding Lisa Ross Birth and Women's Center, founded in 1991 as the Maternity Center of Tennessee and later renamed for its late, beloved director of midwifery services.

Midwives at Lisa Ross Center had partnered with several hospitals — including UT Medical Center and Covenant and now-Tennova facilities — for attending privileges at various times over the birth center's history.

Baby+Co. kept many of the Lisa Ross Center's services and patients — including keeping Spanish-speaking staff and taking TennCare — but added a modernized new "boutique" facility and the financial stability the independent center struggled to obtain in its last years.